God Bless America Sign – Made with Paint Sticks

Happy Friday ya’ll! I am assuming most of you are not officially on summer break. My kids got out of school a week ago now and we have already had many playdates, sleepovers and jumping on the trampoline with the sprinkler. Oh and our garden is in full bloom. Salad and strawberries are my diet right now. Anyway I have been in a hugely patriotic mood lately. It seems like I have lived with red, white and blue this week. I created a patriotic gallery wall (I will show you soon!) and this “God Bless America” sign made with paint sticks is one of pieces.

Supplies:

5 gallon paint sticks (I used 9 of them – if you don’t have any you can buy 1/2” stock at Lowes)

1. I first measured my frame to figure out how many paint sticks I would need and also to know how wide to cut my paint sticks. My frame was an odd size since it was made from old barnwood.

2. I cut my sticks to 11 1/4” with my chop saw so that they would lie vertical.

3. Next using my sample pots of paint in Colonial White and La Fonda Geranium Red I painted the sticks with a foam brush. I applied two coats.

4. Once dry I used my 3M sanding sponge to distress the edges.

5. Next I flipped the frame over and glued the edge of the frame and then I spaced my sticks. I eyeballed it this time, although I usually use nickels as spacers. A nickel space wasn’t enough of a space and I didn’t want to have to rip one of the paint sticks to a thinner size. So eyeballing it was!

6. Let it dry overnight. Then cut out the vinyl with the Cameo machine and apply it to the painted paint sticks.

7. Using a pouncer brush add the Indigo Cloth Valspar paint. It has great coverage so I only needed one coat.

8. While the paint is still wet remove the vinyl. I used a vinyl hook to get the letters off but you could also use a stick pin.

Then hang it on your wall year round or just during Memorial Day to the 4th of July. Although being patriotic can be year round!